Someone else

Any ideas on why Del Potro has never really done well here? I would think slow hardcourts would suit him exceptionally well, but he hasn't done very much. Ran into Roger twice in the quarters, but could hardly put up a fight each time.

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2010 del potro (4th rd),struggled to get through matches with wrist injury that he would soon rest for 3months before surgery in may, meant he only played 2 more match at end of 2010 season,

2011 was the start of the comeback, he lost in 2nd rd to bagdhatis or tsonga (jmdp world rank after aust open 485),..2012 rank 11, as you say he lost to fed in qf..so really its very distorted as 2009 when he was few months past 20yrs was last time he fully fit there.

have to admit it's looking like Djokovic, followed by Murray then Federer and then either Nadal or Del Potro. Unless nadal somehow gets back to top shape in time, in which case he has a better chance than Federer and Murray.

Djokovic- 65%. The huge favorite. Will cement himself as probably the Australian Open GOAT ahead of both Agassi and Federer if he wins.

Murray- 15%
Nadal- 10%
Federer 8%
All others- 2% combined

As usual any of the top 4 could win, but it would still be surprising if that one isnt Djokovic in this case. Anyone outside the top 4 at this venue would be a huge surprise. Del Potros least likely slam to ever win is the Australian Open, the conditions are way too hard for him. That plus he isnt even ready to win another slam yet anyway. Ferrer is never going to win a slam on a surface that all the more favored people excel on. The others arent worth a mention.

For Nadal, winning a slam after 6 months of not playing is going to be very hard.

Federer won his last 5 slam finals by beating Murray 3 times, Roddick+Soderling pigeons in 2009, so his slam winning odds are quite poor since 2008. He is still good and can win more, but 5 years after his prime he is just very unlikely to.

For Nadal, winning a slam after 6 months of not playing is going to be very hard.

Federer won his last 5 slam finals by beating Murray 3 times, Roddick+Soderling pigeons in 2009, so his slam winning odds are quite poor since 2008. He is still good and can win more, but 5 years after his prime he is just very unlikely to.

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I agree that Novak's the favourite followed by MUrray. However, if they both end up in the same half of the draw, you have to favour Fedal to have at least one of them in the final. In which case basically everything is possible.

Looking forward, 2013 promises to be a most interesting year of Tennis, with a 4-way Tug of war for every title.

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This has been said many years for the last few. I'm a bit afraid that if Nadal can not come back and Fed plays a reduced schedule, it'll be a two-way grind, with Djokovic easily more consistent, but Murray winning some big ones.

The trophy belongs to Novak Djokovic. His offense and defense on the AO surface is something else. Twice he straight-setted Federer. The only guy who has any chance is Murray and to a much lesser extent, Nadal who has no form, no confidence and no physical or mental strength to grind with the current form of Djokovic.

I agree that Novak's the favourite followed by MUrray. However, if they both end up in the same half of the draw, you have to favour Fedal to have at least one of them in the final. In which case basically everything is possible.

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Federer can't compete with Djokovic on the slow hardcourts of Australia. Nadal even in superman mode and an extra day off couldn't beat a tired Djokovic in the final. The only guy who has any chance is Murray.

For Nadal, winning a slam after 6 months of not playing is going to be very hard.

Federer won his last 5 slam finals by beating Murray 3 times, Roddick+Soderling pigeons in 2009, so his slam winning odds are quite poor since 2008. He is still good and can win more, but 5 years after his prime he is just very unlikely to.

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yeah but he's beaten Djokovic as well in two of those title runs and also at his run to the RG final in 2011. Just because it wasn't a final doesn't mean it wasn't a good win.

however I don't give Fed much of a shot on the slow courts of Australia when he had enough trouble with Djokovic indoors.

Federer can't compete with Djokovic on the slow hardcourts of Australia. Nadal even in superman mode and an extra day off couldn't beat a tired Djokovic in the final. The only guy who has any chance is Murray.

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Even if you are right i am not wrong. If murray beats Djokovic in the semis hè might still lose the final to a fresher Federer or Nadal

This has been said many years for the last few. I'm a bit afraid that if Nadal can not come back and Fed plays a reduced schedule, it'll be a two-way grind, with Djokovic easily more consistent, but Murray winning some big ones.

For Nadal, winning a slam after 6 months of not playing is going to be very hard.

Federer won his last 5 slam finals by beating Murray 3 times, Roddick+Soderling pigeons in 2009, so his slam winning odds are quite poor since 2008. He is still good and can win more, but 5 years after his prime he is just very unlikely to.

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Feds 4 slams in the last 4 years all came while Nadal was injured, so his chances depend a lot on Nadal's condition.